Problem w/ air leakage

[Purplkoala]

I have been using my cpap mask for over 10 years. I have the breeze w/ the nasal pillows and I love it. All of a sudden though, i'm having problems with it. It started w/ air coming out of the nose. I've been piecing mine together and finally got a new mask. Same problem. I taped a strap under the part that holds the pillows and brought it up to the top of my head. that stopped the leaking out of the nose. but....

I'll be laying there sleeping and I make this god awful loud noise out of my mouth that wakes my hubby and I up and scared the heck out of me. It's like a vibration, or something coming from near the corners of my mouth. I shut my mouth tight and lay there waiting for it to happen again. It does. I don't understand after all these years why this is happening. the noise I make would win first prize in a burping contest!! It's that bad... Helppppp.... please. thanks

[trish6hundred]

Hi Purplkoala,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
You might want to try a chinstrap, to see if that will help you keep your mouth closed.
Hang in there for more suggestions and best of luck to you as you continue CPAP therapy.

[retired_guy]

That does sound like your mouth is coming open. It also sounds like maybe you are more congested right now than perhaps you have been in the past. Are you having any particular allergy issues? You might try a saline nasal rinse before you shut down for the night. And if necessary, as Trish suggests, try a chinstrap gently applied (the idea is to "encourage" you jaw to stay forward and your mouth to stay shut, not to force anything.)

...and welcome to our little world of happy campers!

[PaytonA]

That does sound like your mouth is coming open. It also sounds like maybe you are more congested right now than perhaps you have been in the past. Are you having any particular allergy issues? You might try a saline nasal rinse before you shut down for the night. And if necessary, as Trish suggests, try a chinstrap gently applied (the idea is to "encourage" you jaw to stay forward and your mouth to stay shut, not to force anything.)

...and welcome to our little world of happy campers!

R_G,

I am curious. How does a chin strap encourage ones jaw to stay forward and how would the jaw staying forward help mouth leaks?

Best Regards,

PaytonA

[retired_guy]

R_G,

I am curious. How does a chin strap encourage ones jaw to stay forward and how would the jaw staying forward help mouth leaks?

Best Regards,

PaytonA

"Gently applied" is about the only way I can think of to describe how I do it. And everybody should be able to do it the way I do it because after all, I'm the same.

Basically I learned way early on that if I put it on too tight I would get this terrific pain in between my jaw and my ear. I didn't really enjoy that all that much, so I loosened the thing up.

When I have it right, it takes just a little more effort to open my mouth than it takes to keep it shut. ..and when it's shut, the jaw just sits where it belongs, and my teeth nest comfortably within themselves.

But it's not tight at all. If I wanted to I could probably still eat one of those Banana Splits Ready for Sleep keeps talking about, although it is tight enough that it might be a little painful when the teeth come crashing down on the frozen strawberries. Don't know for sure, haven't tried it.

[Purplkoala]

I am working on closing my mouth and putting my tongue against the roof of my mouth as suggested. That seems to help some. I do have nasal rinse which I use when I get a sinus infection. It works like a charm. I have a love/hate relationship w/ this stuff. lol. i'll try the saline rinse. My mouth has been dry so I know it's opening at some time. not fond of the chin strap w/ all the other paraphernalia that i am wearing. lol. I'll try this for now and see how it goes.

[Gabby]

Purplkoala sorry you are having these problems after all this time.
Welcome to the forum.
I hope you are able to sort your 'noises' out. I know what you mean about having to wear a chinstrap, I put it off for as long as possible. It was enough putting the mask on at night and now I have this not very comfortable chinstrap to wear as well.
It does give me the results I need though

Good luck to you.

[Shastzi]

You might want to look into a full face mask and start using Sleepyhead software if your machine is data capable.
Otherwise you never really know how well your therapy is working for you.